Review

Review Summary: So serene...a crossing into a world where the factual and concrete meet the ethereal.

Field Music’s Plumb possesses a distinctly urban sound. The fluttering electronic undertones conjure up images of a bustling city street, while the intricate guitar framework depicts symmetrical complexes towering towards the sky. Overtop of those towers lay gentle brushstrokes of pop, painting a calm and accessible blue over all the hustling and scurrying below. Within this diverse and fervent experimentation, there exists a profound sense of unity that keeps all the moving pieces contained in one sleek, tidy package. Almost like a population within itself, Plumb is a melting pot of genres, influences, and styles that have found a way to live amongst each other in harmony.

Plumb’s constant progression immediately lends it a sense of urgency. From one end to the other, it sounds like Field Music is on a quest to arrive at something completely new and never before heard. Each track turns over a new leaf, using electronics, undulating acoustic chords, driving piano, and ragtag percussion as vessels to arrive on a plethora of different doorsteps all at once. There are the jazz vibes at the beginning of ‘Start the Day Right’, the Annuals-reminiscent indie of ‘It’s Okay to Change’, and the airy melodies of ‘Sorry Again, Mate’ – and that’s just within the first three songs. Plumb unfolds in a way that is just as good for people with short attention spans as it is for novelty-seeking hipsters, and there is nary a dull, monotonous, or repeated moment throughout the entire runtime. So if nothing else, this is an album that deserves recognition for its rapidly changing sequences.

However, it is so much more than that. Plumb executes its ongoing innovation with unparalleled musicianship…in other words, this isn’t just an album with a bad case of ADD. The transitions are silky smooth, the layering is textured and precise without feeling confined, and the technical proficiency of the musicians is never in question. The songs are definitely indie-geared, and while Plumb always keeps one foot planted in that camp, it is also always kicking up its free leg and trying to land it across other boundaries. The result is something that feels like an exotic journey and a familiar stroll all at once, and the comfort-to-exploration ratio is perfect. At times entrenched in a matrix of mathy, American Football-like acoustics and at other times floating through various electronic effects to an island in the sky, there is no predicting where Field Music will take you. Just open up your ears – and your imagination – and let Plumb do its magic.

"Ali, what's not to like? If I could see anyone not liking them it would be for the genre/style but you like indie"

I honestly have no idea, they just do absolutely nothing for me. Maybe it's the pretentiousness of it all but I don't usually have a problem with that kind of thing. I remember hating their last one because it lasted so long but this one's just over half an hour and I'm still struggling.